Protesters rip an American flag pulled down from the U.S. embassy in Cairo as they hoist a black flag similar to an Al Qaeda banner on Sept. 11, 2012. (PHOTO – Mohammed Abu Zaid/AP)

Four Americans, including our Libyan ambassador, have been murdered by radical Islamists. Additional embassy employees have been injured. (No Marines to protect our embassy on the 11th anniversary of 9/11… Huh?) Chaos and violence continues to spread throughout the middle east; angry crowds in Tunisia, Yemen, Iraq, Oman, along with demonstrators in Egypt, continue to fill the streets. The Muslim Mafiahood Brotherhood is calling for DEATH TO AMERICA and a massive protest after prayers on Friday. Our sovereign property, American embassies, have been breached, our fences covered in graffiti, items stolen, vehicles torched, emblems torn down, and our flags are burning. Along with our Egyptian embassy, U.S. embassies in at least nine other countries are warning of further attacks and urge Americans to curtail activities in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Armenia, Burundi, Bangladesh, Kuwait, Sudan, Tunisia and Zambia.

In the midst of this mayhem, pandemonium, and visceral display of hatred for America, guess what bothers the mainstream media the most?

Thanks to new media, we’ve learned a nasty little secret about the traveling press corp following Romney. They coordinated ‘GOTCHA’ questions to demonize Mitt Romney for having the audacity to issue a statement on Obama’s unguarded reaction to these events. Listen to the voices of CBS reporter Jan Crawford and Ari Shapiro from NPR:

CBS REPORTER: Yeah that’s the question. I would just say do you regret your question.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Your question? Your statement?

CBS REPORTER: I mean your statement. Not even the tone, because then he can go off on…

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And then if he does, if we can just follow up and say ‘but this morning your answer is continuing to sound…’ – *becomes unintelligble*

CBS REPORTER: You can’t say that..

The transcript also noted this exchange, with a man Graham said is not Shapiro:

CBS REPORTER: I’m just trying to make sure that we’re just talking about, no matter who he calls on we’re covered on the one question.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you stand by your statement or regret your statement?

Tuesday’s assaults on the U.S. Embassies in Benghazi and Cairo have injected foreign policy into the Presidential campaign, but suddenly the parsons of the press corps are offended by the debate. They’re upset that Mitt Romney had the gall to criticize the State Department for a statement that the White House itself disavowed.

We’re referring to the statement issued Tuesday under the headline “U.S. Embassy Condemns Religious Incitement.”
…Mr. Romney reacted late Tuesday with his own statement: “I’m outraged by the attacks on American diplomatic missions in Libya and Egypt and by the death of an American consulate worker in Benghazi. It’s disgraceful that the Obama Administration’s first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.”
…
The Obama Presidential campaign jumped on the remarks Wednesday as inappropriate, yet a “senior Administration official” had told the website Politico later on Tuesday night that “The statement by Embassy Cairo was not cleared by Washington and does not reflect the views of the United States government.” So the White House can walk away from its own diplomats, but Mr. Romney can’t criticize them?
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As Tuesday’s events showed, pandering to Islamists who would use the video to inflame anti-American sentiment isn’t going to stop the protests.
…His political faux pax was to offend a pundit class that wants to cede the foreign policy debate to Mr. Obama without thinking seriously about the trouble for America that is building in the world.

It’s appalling how the mainstream media is tripping over themselves to condemn Romney – especially BEFORE uttering a word of condemnation for the terrorists. We continue to see a shameful lock-step march to shield our call-the-shots-from-behind President. The way they’ve portrayed Romney’s words as far more important than the actual events is insane!

Yesterday, while speaking to CBS News’ 60 Minutes correspondent Steve Kroft, (an institution where Obama walks on water), Obama attempted to minimize Romney for his reaction to the Cairo embassy attack: “Governor Romney seems to have a tendency to shoot first and aim later.” Tripe! Then, with sickening photos of our battered, fallen ambassador racing across the internet and middle east foreign policy unraveling, Obama skipped out on the daily security briefing (he’s missed half of them since being elected) and sashayed off to a fundraiser in Las Vegas.

1) God and Pro-Israel language had been taken out of the Democratic Party Platform
2) Prime Minister Netanyahu had requested a meeting with him
3) His Ambassador/Embassy in Egypt had put out an apologetic tweet on Sept 11th which emboldened Muslim terrorists

Are you kidding me?!?!? He’s either a convincing liar or totally asleep at the wheel … #WeCanDoBetter

A fresh-faced optimistic Democratic nominee (and future winner of the Nobel Peace Prize) is swept into office after a surprise win in the lead-off Iowa caucuses …

As this new President takes office, the economic crisis and national recession intensifies …

An iconic American automobile giant, on the verge of bankruptcy, receives a federal bailout and is “saved” …

Energy costs and inflation soar to historic levels …

Middle East relationships become tense and the US Ambassador to an Islamic agitator nation is murdered by Jihadist Muslim terrorists …

The Islamic world isn’t frightened by obvious US military superiority, for they know this President wants to be loved and leave a legacy as a peace-maker …

The Republican Nominee is accused of a “shoot from the hip”/”shoot first; aim later” approach to foreign policy …

Russia is on the rise and emboldened by America’s decreased standing and respect in the world …

Against all reason (but with the help of a complicit media), this incumbent President leads his Republican challenger, a former Governor of a liberal state, in post-convention/pre-debate Gallup polls by close to double digits …

Many strong Republicans are disheartened by their prospects of winning the White House, thereby seeing their great country sink further into decline and disrepute …

The year? The President?

… none other than 1980 and Jimmy Carter my friends (or the present with Obama if you prefer …).

Bart Marcois, a dear friend who spent many years serving our country in the Middle East as a Foreign Service Officer, gives a reasoned opinion in recent opinion page of The Daily Caller.

It is well worth the read.

Violent extremists stormed America’s embassy in Libya yesterday, killing four innocent people, including our ambassador, Chris Stevens. Killing diplomats is one of the most provocative acts of war, and this is the first time in decades that an American ambassador has been killed. What emboldened our enemies enough to commit this evil act?

When a lawless mob of Islamist extremists used reports about a film that is insulting to Islam as an excuse to overrun the American Embassy in Cairo, our government issued a statement condemning … the film. While the protesters were sitting brazenly on the Embassy walls, openly mocking Obama (chanting, “Take a picture, Obama; we are all Osama”), did the American government condemn the lack of host government protection or the violation of our sovereign territory? No — they apologized that the film “hurt the religious feelings of Muslims.”

This pusillanimous reaction symbolizes the Obama administration’s failure; it also marked the path toward the murder of Chris Stevens.

When extremists in Libya saw their brethren in Cairo successfully humiliate America, and pay no price for it, they knew it was open season on Americans. They followed suit, but were more violent, and did not stop at replacing and desecrating the flag. Obama’s reaction to the killing echoed the statement from Embassy Cairo: he condemned the killing, but was more specific in his condemnation of the people who made the film. His soft answer will jeopardize the lives and safety of our other diplomats everywhere in the world.

And what was our president doing yesterday afternoon while this was unfolding? A radio interview with a Miami DJ known as “The Pimp with the Limp.” When asked how he was doing, our commander-in-chief answered, “Blessed and highly favored.” He said how honored he was to be on the show: “You’ve got Pitbull and Flo Rida and all these guys just beating a path to your door.” That is how he chose to spend September 11, and what he did while our Embassy was occupied.(more…)

Mitt Romney will not raise taxes on the middle class, nor will he lower the tax contributions of the most wealthy!

Today, David Gregory interviewed Mitt and Ann Romney on Meet the Press (see the full interview below). This is the first time in the history of Meet the Press that the wife of a a Presidential Candidate was also interviewed. And in spite of Gregory’s continued public pursuit of an agenda seemingly shaped by the disbelieving and jaundiced left, both Mitt and Ann Romney revealed their true character, charm, capacity and competence!

It is apparent that the media seems to struggle with the Romney’s constancy amid the situational standards of our society – the anomalous Romney’s live and serve by constants and principles of integrity and truth with a sincere and tangible sense of duty. They do not succumb to the typical political pandering and posturing we see in many of today’s politicians. It is human nature to project on others what we see in ourselves, hence the media’s challenge with Mitt and Ann Romney. What the media tries to project on Mitt and Ann is wholly inconsistent with who Mitt and Ann are. We get a sense that the media is so blinded by the beams in their own eyes that they struggle to see the sincere strength and resolute nature of Mitt and Ann Romney, and their foundations for dutiful service; they are truly committed to a cause greater than self. Mitt stated such in his interview – it is about serving the nation, fixing our economy and restoring foundational principles of freedom and liberty! No more, no less.

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Ann expressed how life’s experiences are tutorial in shaping our capacity to empathize with those in need, and to the surprise of the interviewer it had nothing to do with our station in life. As a cancer survivor I get it! Ann Romney, and Mitt by virtue of shared experiences with Ann, clearly understand the suffering of others and how to succor and serve those in need. Further, after the Republican Convention in Tampa and the tender expressions of so many touched by Mitt and Ann Romney, the story of unpurchased service by the Romney’s should no longer be challenged, but elevated as an example for all to follow. Bill Bennett said it best today after the Meet the Press interview; paraphrased, conservatives are more charitable and more giving, they are more willing to offer selfless compassionate service than their liberal counterparts. If anyone wants to consider the point, look to the charitable service and contributions of the Romney’s compared to that of the Obama’s and Biden’s combined. The liberals seem to want to be far more generous with the taxpayer’s money (our money) than their own.

Mr. Gregory then began to press Governor Romney on his economic recovery/jobs plan, seeking for greater granularity. I find it fascinating that when Mitt Romney put a 59 point plan together the media was cynical; when he distilled it down to a more simple five point plan, they demanded more specifics. It is clear that the media is lacking in its capacity to understand, or they just have a specific agenda as the PR machine for the sitting President.

The message came through loud and clear from Mitt Romney today, as it was repeated no less than three times – Mitt Romney will not raise taxes on the middle class, nor will he lower the tax contributions of the most wealthy! Among other things, Mitt went on to juxtapose his foreign policy agenda against Obama’s biggest foreign policy failure, a nuclear Iran.

What I find of interest is a want from the media for Mitt Romney to be granular in his plans without a similar press to Obama, who has yet to present a credible budget in 4 years, or a plan to fix our economy, and he is the President of the United States! What I do know is that I can look to Mitt Romney’s track record and history and know that he will govern and execute a plan based upon principles and pragmatism. He has done it innumerable times and will apply the same disciplines as President. His past is prologue which is equally said for Obama. Only in Mitt Romney’s case his past successes are prologue for future successes, and Obama’s past failures are prologue for future failures.

Today, Romney for President released two fantastic new television ads.

The first is titled “It’s Just Not Getting Better.” Under President Obama, our economy is just not getting better. Americans are suffering. As former NH Gov John Sununu said, “It’s a DISASTER.”

Governor Romney has a plan and the experience to build a stronger, robust middle class with more jobs and MORE TAKE-HOME PAY. And, regardless of the tiresome, lying rhetoric coming from Obamaville, Romney is NOT going to raise taxes on the middle class. Mitt Romney is the leader we need:

An excerpt from Romney’s radio interview with Sean Hannity on August 2, 2012:

Governor Romney recognizes and values the cherished relationship our nation has with Israel. Our country needs a leader that stands with our allies – and Romney will. Here’s the second new Romney ad ‘Cherished Relationship‘:

Mitt Romney’s Israel visit will not only be remembered by the outstanding reception, and the personal embrace by none other than Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. It will in particular be remembered for it’s purpose – the foundation of a fresh start, based on the tone and content of his foreign policy speech in Jerusalem.

While Romney was fortunate enough to publicly recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, it’s important to state, that this recognition is the rule of law since it passed the approval of the US congress in 1995. Romney’s harsh stance against Iran is especially important, due to the grave consequences of a possible nuclear Iran and the threat it poses to the entire world.

The personal and intimate relationship with Netanyahu would definitely play a major role in strengthening the US-Israel relationship, if Romney wins the Presidency. Nonetheless, it is upon the two leaders – no matter what their personal ideology or personal character is – to agree on an open, frank, direct and discreet dialogue, that will benefit the interests of both countries.

The tone of the speech, was one that offered a reflection of the American public, strongly supportive of the US-Israel alliance and the existence of Israel as Jewish State.

Based on the speech and public statements during the visit, one cannot argue that Romney came across as a Hawk or as a neo-conservative, but as a responsible leader that fully understands the value of an alliance that is committed to the security of Israel and is willing to take a stand on the challenges we both face as a free and prosperous nation.

This is the American language. This is an expression of a strong and enduring friendship.

In my eyes, Romney can use the speech in Jerusalem to appeal to those Democrats and Republicans who are passionate about a strong US-Israel relationship. Those who have actually examined President Obama’s record over the past 3 1/2 years have seen President Obama taking an unprecedented approach which resulted in throwing Israel under the bus, contributing to a unstable middle east, and the burial of the peace process.

There is a growing concern among Jewish Americans over the future of the diplomatic relationship with Israel. Therefore, without a doubt, Mitt Romney can definitely use the Israel trip to defy the skeptics and build upon a strong showing among Jewish voters – strong enough to win the general election, come November.

Romney said that “In this sacred spot and on this special day, I have gotten to know more about the history of the Jewish people, and I feel the pain of the destruction undergone by the Jewish people – the special nation as it was in the past – and I pray and hope for peace for the nation of Israel and the entire world.”

Mitt and Ann Romney visited one of the holiest sites in the Jewish faith today, arriving at the Western Wall on a sacred day of mourning in Israel.

The Romneys arrived via motorcade at the site of prayer and spent about 15 minutes walking to the wall and placing their prayers in the wall and got a warm reception.

The wall is split in two – one side for men and the other for women – so Ann and her female staffers approached one side, while the candidate approached the other with Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz.

There were hundreds of Jewish worshippers praying at the site on this holy fasting day of Tisha B’Av and cell phones were out snapping photos of Romney. Many chanted at him as he walked slowly toward the wall.
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Among those with Romney were son Josh, senior adviser Dan Senor and Spencer Zwick.

Romney stood for several minutes with a man who had diagrams and looked to be describing the wall and where on the Temple Mount Romney was standing. Romney then took a piece of paper and wrote something on it. He approached the wall, bowed his head and put his right hand on the wall. After about 20 seconds he looked up and stuck his note into a space on the wall.

American Values: “In God We Trust” — “Liberty” — “E Pluribus Unum”

Twitter Follow: @VicLundquist– Dedicated to all members of The United States military and their families

Much has been written and reported about the lack of leadership by President Obama in matters relating to the economy and his disdain for entrepreneurship. I cannot recall any legislation during his entire term that was passed with some collaboration or cross party support. We have had and continue to have the Win/Lose political leadership of the Chicago style of management. Though a number of initiatives have been proposed, none have been worked collaboratively. This is very troubling, but now more than ever, we see the danger of the leadership void in foreign policy.

Even as I am writing this, the situation has worsened in Syria. We have an international humanitarian and Islamic Fundamentalist takeover in the country of Mali. We see the Muslim Brotherhood extending its influence and control in a number of ‘Arab Spring’ countries, most notably in Egypt. Deployment of chemical and biological weapons is now being actively discussed by Syria. The radical Islamist movement continues to progress. Al Qaeda and its surrogates are certainly not on the run as Secretary Panetta was recently quoted as saying.

Where is the western plan to contain and resist the radical Islamist agenda? Where is our President on dealing with these crises? Yes, I do believe that our pocketbooks may be the most influential single factor in making a Presidential voting decision this fall, but I am becoming increasingly concerned about the decline in the safety of American interests internationally and in the continuously increasing risk to our security by the lack of defined and upheld American foreign policy.

We are in the middle of Governor Romney’s first foreign trip as the presumptive Republican candidate. It gives me great hope that the American public will come to see his resolute determination to a principled and determined approach to American foreign policy. It wasn’t until this week that I understood that Governor Romney has a personal association with Prime Minister Benjamin Netahyahu of Israel. This is a great comfort to me to know that the one country that will always be in the center of the tornado of change in the Middle East will have a personal connection to what I hope will be our future President, Mitt Romney.

I hope in the public discourse of the strengths and weaknesses of the presidential candidates that the differences in approach to foreign policy will take a more prominent position. We need a man of action leading our foreign policy, not a cautious, play both sides against the middle community organizer; notwithstanding the one or two strong positions he has taken, Obama has not led with strength at all or consistently.

There have been some very memorable moments in our country’s history of strong, decisive leaders. One example for me includes the decision of Harry Truman to use a nuclear bomb in Japan. That decision took incredible foresight and courage. John F. Kennedy’s standoff with Nikita Kurshchev over missiles in Cuba took great courage, especially for a new, young, inexperienced President. There is also Ronald Reagan’s powerful and prophetic statement in June of 1987, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

We must have a leader that exudes this kind of confidence and leadership in order to rally the nation in unity. I believe that Governor Romney is just that kind of leader. We have seen that President Obama prefers a conciliatory leadership style. With radical Islamism on the rise, that weakness just won’t work. We must have a clear foreign policy and the leader of our country must continuously demonstrate the will to carry out that policy. Words in these kind of situations are just not enough. Yes, President Obama can give great speeches, but we are desperately in need of great actions.

I look forward to better foreign policy days with the election of Governor Romney as President of the United States. Please join me in working to see this happen.

Mr. Stevens lives in Laguna Niguel, CA with his wife Susan. He has over 30 years of sales, sales management, marketing and business development experience. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from University of Utah and earned a Masters of Arts in Applied Mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles.